Media.ge, Tbilisi, 01 Apr 2009 - Open to journalists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia for stories on conservation issues published or broadcast between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009.

First prize: $1,000 (USD), a plaque and certificate of recognition;Second Prize: $500 (USD), a plaque and certificate of recognition;Third Prize: $200 (USD), a plaque and certificate of recognition;

Open to all media: print, radio and television.

Stories may originate in any language, but must be submitted with either a) a copy translated into Russian or English, b) a transcript of a radio segment translated into Russian or English or c) a video with subtitles in Russian or English. Radio and television stories may be submitted on compact disks accompanied by written scripts in the required languages. Print entries should be delivered as electronic files. Each applicant can submit no more than 2 stories;

Distinguished journalists from each country of the region will evaluate stories and select the winners.

An announcement of the winners and the best stories from the Caucasus will be posted on the Internet Web site of the Biodiversity Reporting Awards, www.biodiversityreporting.org together with winners from countries in Latin America and Africa.

Deadline for entries: June 9, 2009

Entries should be submitted by e-mail to: tiniko@gfsis.org or by postal service to Tiniko Dvalishvili at the Caucasus Center for Journalists, 3/a Chitadze st.; Tbilisi, Georgia.

Questions? Contact Tiniko Dvalishvili at CCFJ, +995 (99) 58 55 71;

The contest and journalism training on this topic are administered by the International Center for Journalists, Washington, D.C., USA, with local partners led by CCFJ. These activities to encourage better coverage of the conservation of biodiversity in the region are sponsored by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), a joint venture of the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank, the Government of Japan, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and Conservation International.

Nature does not recognize national borders. CEPF works in five countries in the Caucasus – Europe’s most diverse region for plants and animals – to protect species and their habitat and encourage sustainable development.

FRONTLINE CLUB GEORGIA

Frontline Georgia is a media club that aims to serve as a politically-neutral venue for journalists, public officials, students, intellectuals come together in a dialogue over media, social, political and cultural issues important for Georgia and the region. Frontline Georgia holds panel discussions, screenings, exhibitions, conferences and master classes.

Frontline Georgia’s mission is to contribute to quality journalism and exchange of views. Its Events Program will bring together the key players and thinkers in politics and the media and give a member an opportunity not only to hear from experts but to ask questions and contribute to the discussion in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

While there are other meeting places for important public discussions, Frontline Georgia is among the very few, where people from different ideological and political camps meet together. This neutrality has been one of the biggest achievements of the club, which operates in Georgia’s highly politicized and polarized social and media environment.

Ruth Olshan in her film portrays musicians who work with different approaches: a male choir searching and cultivating old folk songs in the Caucasus region, a female choir, a school dance company and musicians who enhance Georgian folk music. There is a common denominator that links the diverse protagonists in Olshan’s film: Singing, dancing and music are crucial elements of their lifestyle. Music is as important as “air to breath,” explains the director of the female choir . The subtle camera work discreetly catches moments and spontaneous encounters, showing that the rehearsals and the singing brings moments to these women where they are taken away from their normal course of life. For life in Rustavi, a small town near Tiflis, seems bleak. The industry is dead, the unemployment rate is enormous. You ask yourself how people can live. The choir women’s beauty and positive energy exude an affirmative sign of life, even in mournful moments. Men and women sing and dance both joy and sorrow off their chest. In Georgia, music seems to be omnipresent, almost existential. Even if a young singer does not think folk music is “sexy”, he still gets hooked. It gets under his skin. The film pays tribute to this fascination, vitality, and spiritedness.

IMPRESSUM

Disclaimer

Most of the material on this site is sourced from other online publishers. I hereby acknowledge the original authors of this material. This material does not always reflect the views and opinions of the webmaster.
This site does not host any of the videos found here, or upload them to the internet. Rather, we take advantage of existing material that has been uploaded by other parties.